- Don’t put them in the ground. Ever. They’re epiphytes, meaning they live on other plants rather than in the ground.
- You can put them in unusual places because they don’t require dirt. One can be placed in a shallow bowl or vase filled with rocks or sand, one can be placed in a little container with a magnet and placed on the fridge, or one can be tied to driftwood using a translucent fishing line.
- Do not confine them to a terrarium. Yes, they’re cute, and there are photographs of air plant terrariums all over Instagram, but air plants require air circulation. A closed container will keep them overly damp, causing them to decay or become infected with fungus.
Do air plants need a container?
Air plants can be grown in regular pots, but their small size and lack of moisture requirements make them ideal candidates for a variety of alternative planter designs.
For something a little unusual, try one of these unique air plant holders.
This larger air plant fits perfectly in a regular family fish bowl. For a distinctive and beachy atmosphere, add some white gravel and a collection of sea shells.
One of my blog followers gave me a photo of her air plant display, which she thought was extremely cool.
The air plants are held in place by a bent wire at the top of these attractive planters, which are made of wood blocks. So inventive. Lilibeth, thank you for sharing! I adore how these turned out!
Air plants enjoy sitting atop trees in the wild. Wrap some sphagnum moss around a piece of wood and attach the plant to it to achieve this look. When hanging in this manner, it will appear natural and woodsy.
Air plants are a great addition to any terrarium display. Terrariums keep the moisture in and provide the optimal habitat for the plant.
This charming teardrop-shaped glass holder is decorated with a heart and wrapped in copper wire. It gives the small tillandisia a natural appearance as it sits on a bed of green moss.
A note on copper and air plants:
Copper pipes and wires can be poisonous to air plants, especially if they are repeatedly exposed to moisture, which is necessary if you water in the container.
If you want to utilize a copper-containing air plant container, make sure it’s completely sealed with a clear coating like Flex Clear.
You can also remove the air plant from the container while watering it to avoid exposing the copper to wet.
An old wooden drawer with sections was transformed into a lovely succulent planter for an air plant and other succulents in this simple DIY project.
Because Air plants grow on host trees in nature, using log holders to display them makes a lot of sense.
For a completely symmetrical container, this lovely log design showcases two plants, one on each end.
Air plants are ideal options for shallow bowl planting due to their modest stature. For a minimalist look, this attractive air plant bowl container includes gravel, a piece of drift wood, and three distinct air plants.
Driftwood is an excellent choice for a planter. The sea naturally polishes it, forming cracks that can be used to plant tillandsia in.
Logs can be used in a variety of ways in planters. Here are some additional log planter options.
My most recent trip to the local farmer’s market was spent perusing an air plant vendor’s stall, which featured a plethora of attractive containers. This bird cage caught my eye, and I really like how it looks.
It was about 5 feet tall and had a massive piece of drift wood to hold the tillandsia plants!
This shield type air plant holder has a rustic holder made of a stained wooden plaque and copper tubing.
It’s simple to construct and looks great with the plant. Walnut Hollow Crafts has a tutorial for a shield planter.
This air plant is perfectly housed in a circular sphere constructed of flat copper wire. The planter is simple to spray and looks fantastic with the colorful moss beneath the air plant collection.
In this interesting coffee pot terrarium, my old Mr. Coffee carafe has a dual purpose.
My air plant was paired with other succulent plants to create a lovely display that requires very little watering.
A jute-wrapped glass bottle with a front round opening is embellished with a single wooden bead. For a fun rustic feel, add some colorful moss in various shades and a spiky air plant in the center.
This is a lovely planter. A side of a light bulb has been taken off to allow the air plant to be placed with some moss.
I like how the copper wire complements the light bulb’s top hue. Cute, different, and just the right size!
This marbled clay loop makes a terrific air plant holder and is a fun DIY project.
It’s constructed of polymer clay that’s been dyed before being baked.
This charming planter is composed of a ceramic cat figure with a plant-sitting area on top.
House of Hawthornes has additional adorable air plant holders.
These ancient metal pipe fittings serve as air plant holders as well.
They’re rustic and one-of-a-kind.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user BookFinch.
In this fairy garden fashioned from a brandy snifter, air plants look right at home. The small deck chair is adorable. It creates the ideal seaside scene! Pastels and Macaroons has a fairy garden instruction.
Last but not least, I recently discovered this beautiful planter at Lowe’s.
It’s a blown glass container with a cutout in the front and two copper wire wrappings.
The copper bloom complements the moss’s vibrant colors and nicely exhibits the air plant.
What kind of display do you have for your air plants? In the comments section below, I’d love to see some images!
Where should I keep my air plant?
Light. Air plants prefer indirect light that is bright. A bright window may provide too much light, whereas a gloomy room may provide insufficient illumination. Find a sunny area in your home where the sun isn’t shining directly on the plant, which could cause it to burn.
What do you need for air plants?
Tillandsia, or air plants, are among the easiest plants to care for, but they do require some attention and environmental considerations to grow. They’re dubbed “air plants” because they don’t need soil and get their nutrition from the air, but they still need water, fertilizers, and light to survive. Air Plants are epiphytes, which means they grow on another tree, host, or item in nature. They do not, however, rob nutrients from their hosts; instead, they use it as a place to grow. To take nutrients and moisture from the air, air plants use trichomes, which are microscopic capillaries found throughout their leaves.
They may survive in a variety of locations, vessels, and spaces because they don’t require soil (and most Tillandsia should not be planted in soil). Because of their adaptability, air plants may be utilized in a wide range of situations, which has led to a surge in the popularity of Tillandsia as home and workplace decorations.
While air plants are recognized for being easy to grow, they do require attention in order to survive and thrive.
Tillandia can live for several years if properly cared for, and it can even produce “pups” for more years of fun!
How to Care for Air Plants
First and foremost, before you get started on constructing this amazing terrarium, you might want to brush up on how to care for air plants. It’s fortunate for you that it’s quite simple! Air plants (also known as Tillandsias) require this in order to survive.
- Air plants thrive under intense light and may even withstand direct sunlight. Air plants can perish abruptly if they are exposed to too little light. It’s difficult to save them once they’ve reached that point, so make sure you take care of their lighting requirements.
- It’s simple to water air plants… Gather all of your air plants in a large bowl or sink once a week and soak them for 20-30 minutes in water. Allow them to drain on a towel, upside down. If you let water collect in the leaves of your air plants, they’ll rot, so give them a good shake before laying them out to drain.
- Add a half-strength water soluble fertilizer to the water you soak them in every other watering during the growing season.
That concludes our discussion. So, here’s how to construct an air plant terrarium that not only looks great but also complements your home design.
Air Plant Terrarium Supplies
We created our first air plant terrarium with a simple aesthetic in mind. There’s nothing here but white sand, a few stones, and two lovely air plants. Take note of the one that is in full bloom! It’s a common misconception that once air plants bloom, they perish. While they will eventually die after blossoming, they still have a lot of work ahead of them. Blooming signifies that the plant is preparing to generate air plant pups, also known as young air plants, near its base. So never throw away an air plant that has blossomed… it isn’t done yet!
Air Plant Terrarium Instructions
- To achieve the desired look, add air plants. For a more minimalist aesthetic, use one or two… or as many as you can to create an urban jungle image!
As you can see, there are many distinct types of air plants. Some have beautiful leaves, while others have coarser ones. Sizes, hues, and even watering requirements vary.
We also wanted to go for a more natural look with this air plant terrarium. We used foraged items from our local shore, such as a piece of driftwood and a stone coated in barnacles, in this DIY terrarium. We love the contrast between the preserved moss and the three different air plants in this terrarium.
With the plant parent revolution, air plants are all the rage, and this only goes to show that they can be just as beautiful and interesting as any philodendron or fern!
Where to Buy Air Plants
All of the air plants, preserved moss, and terrarium in this post were given by Etsy seller ‘Spyloh,’ and we are so pleased with them that we won’t buy air plants from anybody else for the time being!
We hope you’re ready to start building your own air plant terrarium. Create the ideal environment for your plants to thrive! We hope you’ll enjoy our article on Clever & Cool Indoor Garden Ideas & Projects, as well as our article on What Are Air Plants? or OhMeOhMyDIY !’s Branch Chandelier Air Plant Display!
Can I put air plants in sand?
Terrariums are a wonderful way to add a little green to any environment, and you can really make your terrarium stand out by using different types of bases. We get a lot of queries regarding how to exhibit air plants in terrariums, such as what kind of bases to use and whether or not they require soil, and so on. Below are some suggestions for selecting the correct bases and decorations to create a stunning air plant terrarium!
>Preserved reindeer moss, beautiful sand, small rocks, seashells, bark, marbles, and other materials can be used as the substrate. When it comes to the colors and textures of sand and rock for terrariums, the possibilities are unlimited, so have fun with it!
>Since your air plants don’t require soil to survive, there’s no need to include it here. The majority of air plants, in fact, should never be planted in soil. To add variation and texture to your terrarium, just layer moss, sand, or rock.
>You don’t want your air plants in their terrariums or holders to come into contact with any moisture, so make sure whatever base you use is entirely dry.
Can I put air plants in a vase?
All About Tillandsias, or Air Plants, and Yes, They Flower! A couple of tillandsias snuggled in moss look lovely in a glass globe vase, and it lights up my office.
How do you feed air plants?
- Use rainfall or bottled water as a source of drinking water. Softened water contains salts that can burn air plants, while tap water has minerals that can clog the trichomes on air plant leaves, preventing them from collecting nutrients.
- Dry out the air plants. This is a critical point. After they’ve soaked, shake off the excess water and dry them in the sun for a few hours.
- Add water-soluble fertilizer for epiphytes, bromeliads, or air plants to the water you soak them in once a month to feed them. These specialist fertilizers provide nitrogen in a form that can be absorbed by the plants.
- Temperature swings are beneficial to them. They’ll thrive if the temperature drops by ten degrees, simulating cool nights in their home jungle.
- They aren’t able to resist a freeze. They’re completely tropical and must be brought indoors for the winter.
- Ensure that they are exposed to at least 4 to 6 hours of bright, filtered light per day. A space with lots of windows will appeal to them.
What kind of water do you use for air plants?
On our Facebook page, we get a lot of queries on how to water air plants, so I wanted to elaborate a little. While Tillandsia (also known as air plants) are easier to care for than many other plant kinds, they do require some upkeep and TLC, and water plays an important role in their overall health. Here are some of the most common questions we hear about watering air plants, along with our answers:
This is mostly determined by your climate and where you keep the air plants, as well as the Tillandsia species (learn more about mesic vs. xeric air plants here) and the type of environment in which it grows in nature. We reside in Tampa, FL, so it’s very humid here for the majority of the year, and we don’t run the heat in our house during the winter like our friends up North (I’m not trying to rub it in!). We water our plants twice a week on average, but individuals who live in drier climes will need to water more frequently. Depending on the time of year, you may discover that you need to water your plants less. It also depends on where you keep them in your house or office. A humid bathroom will keep the plants moist, but those near an air vent or heat source will need to be watered more frequently. (Please note that keeping your plants near heat sources is not recommended.)
Note that, while humidity might slow the drying process, it is not a suitable watering method in and of itself!
Again, you’ll want to adapt your watering methods based on your climate and air plant species, but we recommend soaking your plants in water at least once a week for MOST air plants and settings. You can use anything that allows you to totally submerge the air plants, such as a bowl, bucket, or your sink. Soak them for 30-60 minutes at least once a week, and every other week if you live in a dry area, give them a longer soak for an hour or more. If you live in a humid environment or have a xeric air plant, you may want to cut the soak time in half.
After bathing, make sure the air plants are completely dry. Turn them over and softly shake them, or lay them out to dry with the leaves down. Allowing water to remain in the leaves can cause the plants to decay. The plants should be placed in an area with sufficient air circulation and should be able to dry entirely in 4 hours. If your plants are housed in a globe or terrarium, ensure sure they are thoroughly dry before bringing them back home!
You’ll notice how wide and open the leaves are after soaking them, and how much more “happy” they appear. This is how a properly hydrated air plant should seem! If the color turns slightly dull and the leaves begin to close/curl over time, this is an indication that your Tillandsia is thirsty, and you should give them another soak. If your air plant is in desperate need of water, soak it for several hours or overnight to see if you can rehydrate it. Before soaking or spraying them again, make sure they have a chance to dry thoroughly.
It’s also a good idea to spray the plants in between waterings. If you live in a dry area, this might be a terrific method to keep plants healthy and offer them some additional attention. Unless you have one of the few varieties of air plants that like low moisture, such as the T. tectorum (which we only propose misting) or the T. xerographica, misting is not a substitute for a proper soak (which we recommend dunking instead of soaking).
When it comes to water, air plants aren’t picky, and most tap water is good, but it all depends on the water quality in your location. Because these waters are more nutrient-dense, the best water to use is rain water, aquarium water, or pond water (note: if using one of these waters, don’t add any additional fertilizer). If you’re using tap water, let it out for a few hours to allow the chlorine to disperse (maybe 24 hours in some areas.)
Do not use distilled water because it is too “clean” for these plants and will deprive them of the nutrients they require. Also, avoid using artificially softened water because it contains too much salt for Tillandsia.
We recommend soaking your air plants in the morning to ensure that they dry completely throughout the day, as well as because air plants utilize the evening to breathe carbon dioxide and will be unable to do so if they are wet in the evenings.
This is known as CAM, and you can learn more about it in our page on how air plants breathe. You can check on them before going to bed and put them back in their terrariums or displays if you expose them to some indirect sunlight.
These are the most frequently asked questions about watering air plants. Did we respond to your question? If you’re not sure, just ask! Are you looking for more information on how to care for air plants? Visit our Air Plant Care page for more information.
How do you keep air plants alive?
When caring for Tillandsia, there are five basic principles to remember:
- 1) Make sure to water your Airplant on a regular basis. Your airplant will need to be watered on a regular basis.
Do you soak air plants upside down?
When it comes to watering air plants, the bottom line is to bathe the leaves every week to ten days. Then, before returning the plants to their original location, make sure they are totally dried upside down.